Fishing with Poppa...

Last night we went to Sylvan Beach for dinner. Then we went to the dock where Poppa took Sammy fishing...and Sammy caught his first ever fish!

Sammy fishing with Poppa...

North Shore 2009: Days 3 and 4

Tragedy befell us when Paul slipped on the rocks and his beloved Nikon D50 camera fell in a puddle of water. As a result, we don't have many photos for the last two days (we're hoping we can get some from everyone else). Lake Superior: 1 Paul: 0

Bernie and Mark came up to go fishing with us. Sammy really got a kick out of it.

We had occasional rain during the vacation...

...but also had a good amount of sunshine too...

Heading out to fish...

Bernie swaps fishing stories with Sammy...

Bernie and Mark...

Gooseberry Falls State Park...

Morning view from our deck to the shore...

Mike, Diane, Anne, Sammy, Michele, Bernie, and Mark...

North Shore 2009: Tour of Soudan Mine Video

It's a bit lengthy (about 8:52) but it has the excellent description provided by the tour guide and if you look really close you can see a bat!

North Shore 2009: Day 2

On our second day of vacation on the North Shore we went to the Split Rock lighthouse and then the Soudan Underground Mine.

Soudan mine is known as Minnesota's oldest, deepest, and richest iron ore mine. It was closed in 1962 but is now open as a state park. Visitors can today travel 2,341 feet below the surface on an 80-year old electric hoist through shaft #8. The ride is fairly scary. Underneath visitors ride 1/2 mile to view some mining chambers.

Aunt Annie told Sammy that we were going to see the Joker in the BatCave (currently, Batman and Superman are all that matters to Sammy). When we went to get into the rickety 80-year old electric hoist, Sammy was afraid to go, until our tour guide told him that she had already taken care of the Joker. We'll post some video at a later time.

Oh, and there were bats down there too!

Split Rock lighthouse...

A view from Split Rock lighthouse...

Lighthouse-keeper residences...

Sammy with lighthouse-keeper dude...

Diane & Mike...

Group shot at Split Rock...
Anne, Diane, Mike, Michele, Sammy, & Paul...

Soudan mine...
...we barely got there in time for the last tour of the day!

Part of an electric hoist...

The miners would mine from one level up to the next...
...throwing the junk rock mined to the level below them...
...and work their way up...

The scariest ride in the world!!
It will rattle your fillings loose!

Sammy in the BatCave...

Michele & Sammy...

Miles and miles of tunnels...

Anne, Paul, Sammy, Michele, Mike, & Diane...

North Shore 2009: Day 1

Sammy's Batman & Robin take a rest from crime fighting on the north shore...

Last weekend we went to Lake Superior along the North Shore of Minnesota. We rented a lakeside cabin in Tofte, MN (this is the cabin). We drove out Thursday night to stay at a hotel in Superior, Wisconsin. At the hotel we met up with Paul's sister Diane and Mike. In the morning, Sammy and Paul went for a swim in the pool, then we went to Canal Park in Duluth, then Bettie's Pies, and finally our lakeside cabin. We were lulled to sleep by the sound of waves crashing on the rocks.

Sammy bravely enters the pool...

Paul is not moving fast enough in the water for Sammy...

Diane and Mike play air hockey...

Mike and Diane...

Michele and Sammy...

With a steady hand, Sammy navigates stormy waters...

Sammy explains to us the geology of the Great Lakes...

End of trip...

Our visit back east went by fast. We were accompanied to the airport for our return flight by Grandma R, Grandpa R, Aunt Diane, and Uncle Andy. While we were at the Syracuse Airport, Sammy decided to take everyone for a flight...

Pilot Sammy shares his knowledge of aerodynamics...

Sammy and Grandma R taxi along...

Grandpa R, Grandma R, Uncle Andy, Aunt Diane, and Sammy...

Grandpa R, Grandma R, Michele, and Sammy...

Dinner at Eddie's

While visiting back east, a group of family (including Grandma R, Grandpa R, Aunt Diane, Uncle Andie, Uncle Paulie) went to dinner at Eddie's Restaurant in Sylvan Beach, NY. Eddie's Restaurant is a local favorite and has been for 75 years.

Eddie's Restaurant...

Aunt Diane took a gamble and told the waitress to "surprise her"...

Uncle Paulie and Sammy sharing a laugh...

Eddie's usually has a long line...
...so while we waited we walked over to the water...
...and watched this fellow reel in a massive sturgeon...

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More photo's from Grandma M...

Here are some more photos of Sammy & family from the trip back home for his Great Grandma's funeral.

From left to right:
Karen, Granpda R, Grandma R, Aunt Susie, Uncle Andy, Aunt Diane...

On the chair swing,
Ana gives Sammy a hug...

On the swing chair,
Noah tells Sammy a joke...

On the chair swing,
Uncle Andy, Ana, and Sammy...

Taking a rest from jumping on Grandma's bed...

Sammy, Noah, and Ana caught in the act...
...on Grandma's bed...

Grandma R, Karen, and Aunt Susie share a light moment...

Grandma M...

This past June Michele's grandmother passed away. Michele and Sammy flew back to New York state for the funeral (we had family in town at the time so Paul could not go). It was sad to see Grandma go, but comforting to know she is now with Grandpa.

Sammy with his Great Grandma M and Grandma R...

A drawing of Sammy's great-grandparents by Michele's very talented cousin Mary...

Sometimes getting a group to cooperate in a group photo is a herculean task...

Sammy's godfather...Uncle Andy with Aunt Diane...

Sammy with his cousins Noah and Ana in the pool...

Sammy is a big Yankee's fan...
...and he certainly enjoyed being in New York state...

After posting this on the blog...
...we doubt Michele's sister Sharon will pose like this again for our camera...

Michele resists Justin's peer pressure...

Sammy and his cousin Ana sharing brunch...
...and a chair...

Noah is all smiles...

Sammy and Ana navigate a tunnel...

From front to rear...
...most of them in big floppy hats...
Ana, Grandma R, Michele, Jaime, Stephanie, Sharon, and Sammy...

From Left to Right:
Grandpa R, Stephanie, Sharon, Anna, Jason, Jaime, Gradma R

Three cousins sleeping in a car...
...hmmm...
...sounds like it should be in a nursery rhyme...

Sammy and Grandpa R...

Sammy with his Uncle Andy...
...the gusty wind in their faces...
...across the green grass field...
...their trusty tractor races...